Kelly responds to Brownes "populist Sinn Féin" comments

Cllr Anthony Kelly has described Deputy John Brownes comments accusing Sinn Féin of populism and opposing government austerity for the sake of opposition as pathetic and a reflection of Fianna Fails political irrelevance and impotency in opposition.  The Wexford Sinn Féin Councillor said that Fianna Fail were incapable of opposing the Fine Gael and Labour regime as it was busy implementing the failed economic policies of the last Fianna Fail led government.

Cllr Kelly said;                  

"The scatty comments made by Deputy Browne accusing Sinn Féin of practising populist politics and opposing government policy to make electorate gain are pathetic and a sorry reflection of Fianna Fails own impotency in opposition.  We never expected Fianna Fail to offer much opposition to a Fine Gael and Labour coalition who set out from the start to implement the failed economic policies of the last Fianna Fail government, but their endorsement of the very worse measures of austerity inflicted upon the electorate has been truly sickening."

"Clearly Fianna Fail are not the leaders of the opposition in Leinster House as they so often claim to be when they morally support failed policies like the household charge and the sale of state assets.  They are political irrelevant at this stage."

"Sinn Féin is not a populist party as Deputy Browne claims.  In fact we were the only ones to voice caution when Battleship Bertie was busy squandering the wealth of Celtic Tiger Ireland.  At the time people like Deputy Browne accused Sinn Féin of being cranks.  It is not populism to propose measures that will best protect this state and its people."

"Sinn Féin has offered progressive alternatives to the austerity measures which have been implemented by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Labour and the Greens over the past four years.  Our proposals are costed by the Department of Finance and push the ideal that those who can afford to pay more should do so.  Rather than targeting ordinary people in budget 2013, the government and its cheerleaders in Fianna Fail should be looking at proactive measures like the introduction of a wealth tax, the capping of public servants wages at €100,000 per annum and the easing of the public service recruitment embargo."

"Above all they should be looking at a real job creation programme, which is the only measure that can tackle the economic crisis which this state is faced with in the long term.  This is something that the Fianna Fails and Fine Gaels of this state have been unable to grasp."

Government needs to intervene in pump panic – Sinn Féin

Wexford Sinn Féin has renewed its call on the government to lower the excise duty and VAT on fuel to prevent a ‘pump panic’ this autumn. The cost of petrol has increased to €1.70 a litre in many petrol stations across the county, a hike that Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Kelly feels will seriously impact upon prospects of economic recovery. According to the Irish Petrol Retail Association, up to 57% of the price paid for fuel at the pump goes back to the government in tax.

“The high price of petrol and diesel is having an adverse effect on consumers across the country,” Cllr Kelly said. “It is impacting on families who often have no choice but to keep a car for lack of an efficient public transport system. It is impacting on businesses who are already struggling without the extra cost of rising fuel prices. It is impacting on farmers who have seen the price of agricultural diesel increase by 54% in the last two years.”

“A combination of rising international oil prices, a weak euro and insanely high government taxes on fuel has led to the rise in prices at the pumps. The startling point about all of this is, that while we can’t prevent the external issues that are causing the rise in cost for importing oil, it is within our governments remit to lower and stabilise the cost of petrol and diesel at the pumps immediately.”

“The Irish Petrol Retail Association estimate that up to 57% of the price paid for fuel at the pump goes back to the government in tax. AA Ireland puts the figure at 60%. Action must be taken now to prevent a pump panic this autumn.”

“In last December’s budget Fine Gael and Labour added 1c on a litre of fuel. In the three years before that Fianna Fáil added 14c onto the price of a litre of petrol and diesel.”

“Clearly there is room for the government to lower the excise duty and VAT on petrol and diesel in the interest of the public and economic recovery. Unaffordable high prices at the pumps will benefit no one in the long term. Easing the burden on under pressure businesses and struggling families makes economic sense as well as being the right thing to do.”

Government out of touch with rural Ireland – Sinn Féin

The Chairman of County Wexford Sinn Féin has hit out at the suggestion that capital assets should be included in assessments for the means test for student grant applications. Oisin O’ Connell said that the idea that farmers and the self employed can better afford to send their children to college is false and yet another attempt by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition to scapegoat a particular group in society and to turn ordinary people against each other.

Mr O’ Connell said;

“The idea that farmers or the self employed are better off and in a better position to send their children to college than PAYE workers or the unemployed is misleading,” Mr O’ Connell said. “According to the 2010 National Farm Survey commissioned by Teagasc the average income for farms in Wexford that year was €17,771 per annum. To put this in comparison with other sectors, the average industrial wage in this state is currently €35,486.88 per annum. The figures speak for themselves.”

“Fixed capital - and business assets such as inventory - should not be included in future means test assessments for student grant applications. For example, assets such as farmland are not liquid - and are necessary to continue economic production. So farmers cannot produce the needed cash to send their children to college unless they were to sell their land - which is the basis of their livelihoods. This proposition would be far easier said than done in the current economic environment anyway - and one that is directly opposite to the governments stated aim to keep as many farmers on the land as possible.”

“We have just experienced one of the worst summers on record. Crops have been destroyed or yields hammered, winter feed supplies depleted, and many farmers have been forced to rehouse their stock – hardly the time for the government to go on the attack against the farming community.”

“This is yet another attempt by this government to scapegoat a particular group in society - to turn ordinary people against each other in order to take the limelight off their own failures to govern properly.”

“The Fine Gael and Labour government is showing just how out of touch it is with rural Ireland with this proposal which will exclude many students of farming and small business backgrounds from availing of the student grant scheme, even if they come from households with low or distressed incomes.”

Threats won’t break Household Tax Boycott – Gaughan

A spokesperson for the Loc Garman Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) has said that the threat of legal action against the hundreds of thousands of people who have not paid the household charge will not break the boycott against the controversial tax. Ferns fire-fighter Dominic Gaughan also condemned the veiled government threats to curtail basic local services in a futile attempt to turn public opinion against the protestors.

“The threat of legal action against hundreds of thousands of homeowners who have not paid the household charge illustrates perfectly what an absolute failure this tax has been,” Mr Gaughan said. “Phil Hogan’s Local Government Management Agency is now trying to frighten people into paying the tax by issuing further warning letters containing the threat of legal action. We all know the government is incapable of taking this many people to court.”

“Last week the Local Government Management Agency took an even darker stance when they declared that basic local services would be curtailed unless revenue from the household tax increased. They said that services such as street lighting, public parks, mobile libraries and community run sports centres will be lost as a result of funding cuts brought about by the failure of so many people to pay the household tax.”

“Have they forgotten that it was Minister Hogan who cut funding to local government and not household tax protestors? Have they forgotten that it was Minister Hogan who made the decision to pay off unsecured bondholders with funding that was earmarked for local services and not the household tax protestors? This is a futile government attempt to turn public opinion against the protestors.”

“These scare tactics have failed in the past, and they will fail now. The boycott will not be broken until the government comes to its senses and abolishes this unfair tax once and for all. They need to replace it with a fair taxation strategy which shall ensure that those on higher incomes pay their proper share and that real wealth is taxed.”

Record fuel prices could be tackled by government –O’ Súilleabháin

The record prices for petrol and diesel we are seeing at the pumps could be tackled with realistic swift action by the government according to the spokesperson for the local branch of Sinn Féin. Fionntán O’ Súilleabháin said that the government could no longer put off cutting excise duty on fuel. According to AA Ireland 60% of the price paid for fuel at the pump goes back to the government in tax.

The biggest cause of why petrol and diesel is reaching such high prices at the pumps is our government’s reliance on revenue generated by taxes and levees on fuel,” Mr O’ Súilleabháin said. “Petrol has hit €1.70 a litre at many pumps, while diesel has reached €1.60 a litre. Out of this, AA Ireland estimates that 60% goes back to government in tax and levees.”

“This government has often highlighted just how important our exports are to our economy. In fact they have suggested that economic recovery will come on the back of rising exports. How can an export industry thrive when fuel prices are hitting such heights?”

“How can our farmers reach the ambitious targets set out in the Food Harvest 2020 document when rising fuel prices are making the needed developments impossible? How can our economy recover when rising fuel prices are bankrupting businesses, leading to further unemployment?”

“In last December’s budget Fine Gael and Labour added 1c on a litre of fuel. In the three years before that Fianna Fáil added 14c onto the price of a litre of petrol and diesel. Clearly there is room for the government to lower the excise duty and VAT on petrol and diesel in the interest of economic stability and recovery.”

Hunger Strike Remembered in Taghmon

A vigil in memory of republican hunger striker Mickey Devine was held in the village of Taghmon in South Wexford last Friday night. Up to forty republicans braved the poor weather conditions and attended the event organised by the local Gleeson Sinn Féin cumann.

Its approaching the 31st anniversary of Mickey Devines death on hunger strike in the H-Blocks on the 20th of August 1981. The twenty seven year old from the Creggan in Derry city was the third INLA Volunteer to join and die in the hunger strike. He had taken over as the INLAs blanketmen O/C after the death of his comrade Patsy O'Hara.

On Sunday, June 21st, 1981, he completed his fourth year on the blanket, and the following day he joined Joe McDonnell, Kieran Doherty, Kevin Lynch, Martin Hurson, Thomas McElwee and Paddy Quinn on hunger strike. With the 50 % remission available to conforming prisoners, Micky would have been due out of jail next September. Instead he chose to honour his ideals and died for them at 7.50 am on Thursday, August 20th.

New survey highlights actual costs of sending children to school in Enniscorthy

Cllr Johnny Mythen has welcomed the launch of County Wexford Sinn Féin’s school cost survey in Enniscorthy last Tuesday night. Cllr Mythen said that the survey which highlights the increasing financial burden being placed on parents across County Wexford when sending their children to school shows the need for the government to intervene with ‘common sense’ policies to reduce high back to school costs.

“The costs of sending children to primary and secondary school and to third level have increased drastically for parents across County Wexford over recent years,” Cllr Mythen said. “According to the OECD Education at a Glance report, education spending in Ireland was the fourth lowest among 31 OECD states during the height of the Celtic Tiger boom. When the state had money, our government failed to invest in our children’s education and now it is both parents and children who are paying the price for that mistake.”

“In order to gauge an accurate view of the expenses incurred in sending children to school in County Wexford today, County Wexford Sinn Féin commissioned a survey which was completed by close to eight hundred parents at random locations across the county during the month of July. The results show that 89% of parents in this county find the back to school period to be excessively expensive.”

“Parents in the Enniscorthy district are faced with an increasing financial burden when sending their children to school which could by greatly reduced through the introduction of common sense policies. 52% of parents surveyed said that the introduction of a book rental scheme in all schools would cut education costs. Sinn Féin has called for a centralised book rental scheme which would see books provided free of cost to schools for children’s use.”

“Enniscorthy parents were highly critical of being forced to buy school uniforms from selected producers and retailers who can charge exorbitantly high prices for items of clothing all because they come with a school crest. An average school jumper costs around €60 when its true value is less than a third of this price. 96% of parents surveyed believed that school crests that could be affixed to a supermarket-bought school jumper should be made available to cut the high costs of school uniforms. This is something that we have campaigned for over the past few years.”

“61% of parents surveyed are in receipt of the back to school allowance. Sinn Féin believes that eligibility for the Back to School Allowance should be extended to include all families in receipt of Family Income Supplement in addition to those in receipt of social welfare. We are also against government attempts to tamper with the children’s allowance. 93% of those parents surveyed felt that any cuts to, or the introduction of means testing to the children’s allowance would impact seriously upon their families.”

“This survey shows the present cuts to the education system has put the extra costs directly on parents and guardians whom are literally scraping by on a day to day basis. Further cuts will result in catapulting future generations into illiteracy and poverty.”

County Wexford Sinn Féin launch Back to School proposals

“It might be enshrined in our constitution, but it’s hard to imagine how anyone could get the idea that we have free education in this country!” That was the view of North Wexford Sinn Féin rep and teacher Fionntán O’ Súilleabháin as he helped launch his party’s back to school proposals in Enniscorthy last Tuesday night. Sinn Féin also released the results of a survey carried out at random locations across county Wexford in the month of July which reveal the very real struggle faced by local parents at this time of year.

“Wexford parents are seeing school bills increase as they are faced with an escalating reliance by schools on voluntary contributions from parents, growing costs of school books, over expensive ‘official’ school uniforms which can only be bought in certain premises and a failing school transport network,” Mr O’ Súilleabháin said.

“The survey carried out by members of Sinn Féin across the county in July revealed that 89% of Wexford parents find the costs incurred over the back to school period as excessive, and that 93% of parents surveyed felt that any cuts to, or the introduction of means testing to the children’s allowance in the next budget would impact seriously upon their families.”

“School books, school uniform, footwear and school transport were listed as the most significant expenses by parents surveyed. 50% of Wexford parents admitted to paying more than €350 to cover these costs during the back to school period.”

“What the survey also revealed in what Sinn Féin has been saying for many years – Simple common sense policies enacted by the government could alleviate much of the heavy expense faced by parents and end the rip off culture that currently permeates at this time of year.”

“96% of Wexford parents surveyed believed that school crests that could be affixed to a supermarket-bought school jumper should be made available to cut the high costs of school uniforms. Sinn Féin has consistently called on successive governments to act on this. An average jumper bought for schools in the Gorey area costs around €60 when its true value is less than a third of this price.”

“Sinn Féin is also calling for the introduction of a centralised book lending scheme to be introduced to all schools, the abolishment of charges for the leaving certificate and junior cert and for the mocks, and a halt to any further cuts of any kind to our education system.”

The full report commissioned by County Wexford Sinn Féin can be read online at www.wexfordsinnfeinnews.blogspot.com.

40% of Wexford parents faced with debt to send their children to school – O’ Connell

The Chairperson of County Wexford Sinn Féin has described a new survey which shows that 40% of parents across the county are going into debt to send their children to school as ‘truly shocking’. Foulkesmills man Oisin O’ Connell said that the report commissioned by his party dispelled the myth that we have free education in this state, despite a provision for such contained in our constitution, and provided a strong argument for the introduction of several seemingly obvious policies by our government to cut the costs of the back to school period.

“A survey carried out by County Wexford Sinn Féin at random locations across the county in July shows the incredible economic strain that parents are under during the back to school period,” Mr O’ Connell said. “40% of parents across County Wexford are going into debt to cover the costs of sending their children to school. These statistics are truly shocking.”

“5% of parents say that they finance back to school expenses with a loan from the credit union, while 9% get loans from door to door loan agencies such as the provident. 17% rely on their credit card. 9% of parents surveyed in the county admit that they are forced to sell personal belongings to cover the costs of sending their children to school.”

“93% of those parents surveyed felt that any cuts to, or the introduction of means testing to the children’s allowance would impact seriously upon their families. Sinn Féin has already voiced its opposition to any plans by the Fine Gael/Labour party coalition to tamper with the children’s allowance in the next budget.”

“Clearly there is a need for the adoption of the seemingly obvious policies to cut back the costs of the back to school period by our government. Parents surveyed suggested several common sense policies that could drastically reduce the cost of sending children back to school.”

“96% of parents surveyed believe that school crests that could be affixed to a supermarket-bought school jumper should be made available to cut the high costs of school uniforms. 52% of parents surveyed said that the introduction of a book rental scheme in all schools would cut education costs. 61% of parents surveyed said that they would like to see schools switch to using laptops, e-books and iPads in order to cut down on the expense of school books, writing materials and constant updated to the school curriculum. These are all policies that Sinn Féin has championed.”

“Article 42.4 of our Constitution states, “The State shall provide for free primary education”. It’s clear that this article does not apply in the real world as parents are put under tremendous financial strain in the run up to September. The full report commissioned by County Wexford Sinn Féin can be read online at www.wexfordsinnfeinnews.blogspot.com.”

Back to School rip off must end now – Kelly

Speaking at the launch of County Wexford Sinn Féin’s Back to School proposals and survey results in Enniscorthy last Tuesday night, Cllr Anthony Kelly said that the government had a moral duty to end the back to school rip off. The Wexford Councillor said that the results of a survey commissioned by Sinn Féin showed that Wexford parents were struggling to deal with the escalating costs of sending children to school and that simple common sense policies could relieve much of the stress they are under at this time of year.

Cllr Kelly said;

“In order to gauge an accurate view of the expenses incurred in sending children to school in County Wexford today, County Wexford Sinn Féin commissioned a survey which was completed by close to eight hundred parents at random locations across the county during the month of July. The results were quite startling and illustrated clearly the pressure Wexford parents are under at this time of year.”

“89% of parents surveyed said that they found the back to school period to be excessively expensive. School books, school uniform, footwear and school transport were the most significant expense incurred by parents, half of whom are paying over €350 covering back to school expenses.”

“Wexford parents were highly critical of being forced to buy school uniforms from selected producers and retailers who can charge exorbitantly high prices for items of clothing all because they come with a school crest. An average school jumper costs around €60 when its true value is less than a third of this price.”

“96% of Wexford parents surveyed believed that school crests that could be affixed to a supermarket-bought school jumper should be made available to cut the high costs of school uniforms. Sinn Féin has consistently called on the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to introduce measures to eliminate this school uniform racket.”

“The survey also highlights the inability of parents to pass on school books between siblings due to the constant reprint of text books and updates to the school curriculum. 52% of parents surveyed said that the introduction of a book rental scheme in all schools would cut education costs. Sinn Féin has long suggested that such a scheme should be centralised and would see books provided free of cost to schools for children’s use.”

“The full survey results, report and our recommendations can be found on our blog, www.wexfordsinnfeinnews.blogspot.com. Sinn Féin believes that with a little imagination the Fine Gael/Labour coalition government could introduce measures that would vastly improve the situation for parents who are struggling to meet the back to school bills.”

Protecting our most valuable assets

Wexford Sinn Féin Back to School Paper 2012

Introduction

The costs of sending children to primary and secondary school and to third level have increased drastically for parents across County Wexford over recent years. We are a state that claims to provide free education. Article 42.4 of the Constitution states, “The State shall provide for free primary education”.

Yet every year parents are seeing school bills increase as they are faced with an escalating reliance by schools on voluntary contributions from parents, growing costs of school books, over expensive ‘official’ school uniforms which can only be bought in certain premises and a failing school transport network.

Hard to imagine where anyone could get the idea that we have free education in this county!

According to the OECD Education at a Glance report, education spending in Ireland was the fourth lowest among 31 OECD states during the height of the Celtic Tiger boom. When the state had money, our government failed to invest in our children’s education. The Bank of Ireland Life report estimates the cost of education per child, from Junior Infants through to third level at somewhere around €70,000 with €14,000 spent on secondary school education alone.

Clearly it is both parents and their children who are suffering for the failed education policies enacted by successive governments.

2012 Survey

In order to gauge an accurate view of the expenses incurred in sending children to school in County Wexford today, County Wexford Sinn Féin commissioned a survey which was completed by close to eight hundred parents at random locations across the county during the month of July.

The findings of this survey have been summarised here.

89% of parents surveyed find back to school time expensive.

93% of those parents surveyed felt that any cuts to, or the introduction of means testing to the children’s allowance would impact seriously upon their families.

96% of parents surveyed believe that school crests that could be affixed to a supermarket-bought school jumper should be made available to cut the high costs of school uniforms.

82% of parents surveyed find that the children’s allowance is not adequate to meet the cost of sending children to school in 2012.

61% of parents surveyed are in receipt of the back to school allowance.

52% of parents surveyed said that the introduction of a book rental scheme in all schools would cut education costs.

61% of parents surveyed said that they would like to see schools switch to using laptops, e-books and iPads in order to cut down on the expense of school books, writing materials and constant updates to the school curriculum.

50% of parents surveyed spend over €350 on back to school expenses. 21% of them spend more than €400.

34% of parents surveyed find school books to be the biggest expense during the back to school period. 33% cited school uniforms, while 13% said footwear and 12% identified school transport as the biggest expense.

32% of parents surveyed believe that the back to school allowance should be available to all parents while a further 29% felt that the back to school allowance should be available to all families but means tested.

9% of parents surveyed are forced to sell personal belongings to finance back to school expenses. Another 9% rely upon loans taken out from the provident and other door to door loan agencies.

41% of parents surveyed find secondary school to be the most expensive period in a child’s education.

44% of parents surveyed believe that recent increases to school transport costs are making the costs of sending their children to school untenable.

Our proposals

Stop further government budget cuts to our education system.

Make school crests that can be easily affixed to supermarket bought school uniform jumpers available. An average school jumper costs around €60 when its true value is less than a third of this price.

Establish a book-lending scheme across all primary and secondary schools in the county. Such a scheme should be centralised and would see books provided free of cost to schools for children’s use.

Abolish the charge for the leaving certificate, junior cert and the mocks.

Extend eligibility for the Back to School Allowance to include all families in receipt of Family Income Supplement in addition to those in receipt of social welfare.

Wexford County Council should begin consultation with the Department of Education, every school in the county and suppliers of iPads and similar devices in order to launch Wexford as the first county to go completely over to digital learning. If the tax on digital devices used for learning was to be removed in line with school books and attempts were made by the state to do a deal with providers of such devices, then digital learning would be considerably cheaper over the course of a child’s education.

Oppose third level fees through any guise and reform the grants system to take into account the real costs of going to college.

End the system where schools are reliant on voluntary contributions from parents by raising the capitation grants to cover the real cost of running a school. An estimated 76% of parents are requested to make voluntary contributions to schools, amounting to €130 on average per child. Capitation grants which pay for the day-to-day costs of running the school were reduced by 2% in the last budget and a further 1.5% in February. These cuts combined with the freezing of the summer improvements scheme is making it increasingly difficult for schools to meet their daily running and maintenance costs.

Abolish the new post primary transport scheme which unfairly discriminates against students in relation to where they live. The cost of school transport should be capped at €100 per year, with free transport for primary school children.

End the state subsidy for private education and cap the salaries of university and college heads at €100,000.

Provide every primary school child in the state with a free lunch meal.

Thomas McElwee remembered in Gorey

A vigil was held in memory of republican hunger striker Thomas McElwee in Gorey last Friday evening. The event which was organised by the local Ed O’ Brien and John Sheehan Sinn Féin cumainn was held to mark the 31st anniversary of the young Derry mans death on hunger strike in the H-Blocks.

Thomas McElwee was the tenth man to join the hunger strike in 1981. A first cousin of Francis Hughes, McElwee came from the same small south Derry village of Bellaghy. Their family homes were less than half-a-mile apart in the townland of Tamlaghtduff.

Thomas McElwee died at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, August 8th. He had spent 62 days on a slow agonising hunger strike and was denied the company of his family in his final hours.

The last hunger strike vigil of the year will be held in the south wexford village of Taghmon this Friday evening at 7pm to mark the anniversary of Mickey Devine.

NAMA commercial property should be utilised by local small business – Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly has called on NAMA and the government to put the necessary framework in place to allow NAMA held commercial property to be used by local small to medium enterprises at affordable rents and rates in an effort to stimulate the local economy. The Sinn Féin councillor said that NAMAs estimated €150 million worth of assets within the county must be put at the disposal of the people of Wexford and claimed that the utilisation of these empty buildings could create jobs, commerce and the conditions necessary for economic recovery.

“NAMA released its annual report last month which showed that the state body had assets which they estimated to be worth €150 million in County Wexford,” Cllr Kelly said. “Among these assets are buildings which were or could easily become commercial property. Since 2008 we have seen 40,000 retail jobs lost in this state. Many of these jobs were lost when businesses folded. Many of them could have been saved. The high cost of commercial rents and rates has left many capable businesses out in the cold.”

“The utilisation of NAMA held commercial properties by these businesses and new start ups could create jobs and save many more. The government could place fair rents and rates on these properties as an incentive for these businesses. In return they would make a pledge to take on workers from the live register in ratio to their rent, the size of their property and type of business.”

“This plan would create jobs and boost flagging commerce in our towns. It would create new revenue for the state as more people get back to work. It would in short create the conditions necessary for economic recovery. It would also see empty buildings back in use.”

Upward only rent reviews are hollowing out town centres – O’ Connell

The Chairperson of County Wexford Sinn Féin has said that upward only rent reviews are leading to the hollowing out of town centres and the continuing decline of the retail sector. Speaking on local radio last week Oisin O’ Connell said that Irelands commercial lease laws had contributed to a 50% fall in retail sales and the loss of 40,000 retail jobs since 2008.

Mr O’ Connell said;

“Irelands commercial lease law is unique in the eurozone. Commercial leases rarely last longer than ten years in the rest of the eurozone and the US. This is down to standard competition, the provision of 3-6 years break clauses and index linking to the general economy. In Ireland we have a policy known as upward only rent reviews. Under existing lease law here a tenant has no right to appeal against a rent review awarded by a rent arbitrator.”

“In this state we saw commercial rents increase by 240% between 2000 and 2007 while during the same period the consumer price index increased by 30%. Clearly the rise of commercial rents was not realistic and cannot be justified in its current form.”

“Untenable rents have left many retailers under extreme pressure to continue trading and have directly contributed to the loss of 40,000 retail jobs and a 50% fall in retail sales. It’s obvious that these commercial reviews exist for the benefit of leasers, not tenants. This system is impacting on a weak retail sector, leading to more businesses closing, more unemployment and less new domestic retailers able to enter the market.”

“Walk around town centres today and what you will see is empty shop units and closing down sales. Many businesses are moving out of the rent rich town interiors into commercial parks. What we are seeing is the hollowing out of town centres.”

“The government needs to re-evaluate its policy on upward only rent reviews. The abolishment of upward only rent reviews would lead to a gradual reduction in commercial property yields, which would allow rent reductions for tenants and save thousands of jobs in the retail sector. It would lead to empty shops being occupied and new jobs being created.”

Minister Quinn completely out of touch with rural Ireland – Sinn Féin

Spokesperson for North Wexford Sinn Féin, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin has hit out at the suggestion that capital assets should be included in assessments for the means test for student grant applications.

A report proposing inclusion of capital assets as well as income in the assessment of applicants for student grants is to due be presented to Education Minister Ruairí Quinn in early September after the Dáil recess.

Ó Súilleabháin said:
“Figures available from Teagasc show that in 2009, the average farming income was €11,968. A Teagasc report for 2011, shows that only one third of farms are economically viable farm businesses and 35% of farm households are classed as economically vulnerable across the state.

“If the proposal announced in the Budget for assessing capital and productive assets, for student grant applications materialises, this will unfairly penalise farmers, landowners and people who are self-employed.

“In one of the worst summers of the year, many farmers across the country are struggling to make ends meet and the timing of this report is likely to add further financial pressure to already struggling industries.

“Minister Quinn is showing just how out of touch he is with rural Ireland – this proposal will exclude many students of farming and small business backgrounds from availing of the student grant scheme, even if they come from households with low incomes.

The Labour minister ensconsed in the ivory towers of Dublin 4 has always been out of touch. His own children having a fee paying education in a private schooling system which is annually subsidised to the tune of a massive 800 million euro by the public tax payer.

Ó Súilleabháin continued:

“The Minister should take note of the fierce opposition to this move and find a way to ensure that any new system of assessment for the student grant is fair, equitable and takes into account the true income of the household and the ability to pay.”

Government must assure 40% beef output growth target is realistic – Sinn Féin

The government must step in now and assure Irish beef farmers that the 40% output growth target outlined in the Food Harvest 2020 plan is realistic and achievable. That’s the view of Wexford Sinn Féin Chairperson Oisin O’ Connell who has expressed his organisations concerns following the recent dip in prices for cattle.

“Beef prices fell dramatically in July,” Mr O’ Connell said. “We saw a cut of 30 cent per Kilogram. The cuts witnessed were not down to oversupply as cattle kill is well down on last year’s levels. Instead what we are witnessing are farmers under pressure from the recent bad weather being exploited by the industry.”

“The bad weather conditions this summer has led to devastated grain crops, a weak silage harvest which will have poor feeding value and more expense for grain and ration feed. Many farmers have had to rehouse their herds during the wettest periods of the summer months. What we are already witnessing is a fodder crisis which has left many of County Wexford’s cattle and sheep farmers in a weak position.”

“It is also an unfortunate sign of the times that many farmers have been denied vital credit by their banks and lending institutions. This has meant that many have succumb to soft selling, feeling they have no choice but to agree to low prices.”

“Many meat plants have taken the opportunity to boost their profits at the expense of struggling farmers. These cuts cannot be justified. They have not been repeated on the continent and indeed prices in our main market, the UK, are actually higher than here. It seems that many meat factories lack a commitment to the figures laid out in Food Harvest 2020 and indeed to the sustainability of Irish Beef farming.”

“The Food Harvest 2020 plan, which the government has prioritised, demands the expansion of our beef output by 40% over the next eight years. This will be impossible unless the government moves to assure farmers that this target is realistic and achievable. To do this they must give farmers confidence by intervening to protect beef prices and putting a firm halt to any possible meat factory exploitation.”

Next generation must be given every support – O’ Súilleabháin

Responding to an Irish Independent survey which showed that it is costing some families €1,100 per month to have a child looked after while they work, Fionntán O’ Súilleabháin said that Ireland should follow the lead of other countries and subsidise childcare more. The North Wexford Sinn Féin rep has called on the government to extend the current ECCE scheme to two years and tear up any plans it has for the means testing of the children’s allowance.

Mr O’ Súilleabháin said;

“The shocking statistics from the Irish Independents recent survey show that it is costing some families more for childcare than it is to cover mortgage repayments. The cost of childcare can rise to as much as €2,000 per month for two children, regardless of whether they use a creche or a childminder. The high cost of childcare is forcing some parents to quit their careers.”

“The current government has stressed the importance of building a smart economy for our state. To make this sustainable the next generation must be given every support. The government’s plans to means test children’s allowance at the behest of the IMF will not do this. It is a regressive move that will impact most detrimentally upon the working families who are struggling with childcare costs.”

“In 2011/2012, 66,000 children participated in the ECCE scheme, which allowed for 15 hours of free education per week over 38 weeks for children in the year before entering primary school. According to recent data from Early Childhood Ireland, extending the ECCE scheme for a second year would cost an additional €157m and the longitudinal rate of return will be in the order of 17:1 (as per the High/Scope Perry Preschool Program for every dollar invested seventeen dollars were saved). This effectively means that the €157m invested for the 66,000 children participating in the scheme in this year alone will return savings of €2,669m over the coming 35 years.”

“Fine Gael and Labour need to extend the current ECCE scheme to two years and tear up any plans it has for the means testing of the children’s allowance. The extension of the ECCE scheme will move our state a step closer to universal pre-school for 3-5 year olds, which would be an extremely positive step for a country which means to establish a thriving smart economy in the years ahead.”

Duncormick Post Office will reopen – Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly has welcomed the news that the Post Office in Duncormick village is due to reopen in the near future. The Wexford Sinn Féin Councillor had contacted An Post about the issue after being inundated with calls from concerned citizens in the parish of Rathangan who feared that their local post office had been closed permanently.
“I have been assured by An Post that the closure to Duncormick Post Office is temporary and that every effort is being taken by them to reopen the outlet as soon as possible,” Cllr Kelly said. “Duncormick Post Office was closed suddenly on the 24th of May this year. No reason was given to locals and this has led to many rumours circulating regarding the possible permanent closure of the service.

“Duncormick Post Office provides an important service in the parish of Rathangan. The local Sinn Féin cumann in Duncormick has been active in highlighting this issue. I have also been inundated with calls from concerned citizens in the parish who are finding the absence of the service very frustrating. Many old age pensioners and unemployed people have had to journey up to eight miles to the nearby post office in Bridgetown to claim their benefits.”

Kelly worried about lack of investment in Rosslare Europort

Cllr Anthony Kelly has raised questions over why Rosslare Europort did not feature in the government’s announcement of a €2 billion stimulus plan for County Wexford. The Wexford Sinn Féin rep said that while he wholeheartedly welcomed the planned investment which will boost the areas of transport, education and health in our county, he had serious worries over the omission of Rosslare Europort from the plan.

“Sinn Féin has been calling for investment into County Wexford for many years and we would applaud any effort that will result in job creation,” Cllr Kelly said. “The recent announcement of a €2 billion stimulus for the county is welcome but I would have serious worries over the glaringly obvious omission of Rosslare Europort from the plan.”

“Rosslare Europort is a national strategic asset, supporting exports and tourism. Despite the recession and the neglect it has suffered at the hands of successive governments, the port has increased its business since the recession began. An Irish Ports Association report revealed that ferry based tourism through Rosslare Europort in 2004 was worth €550 million to the Irish economy and supported over 5000 jobs. Experts maintain that these figures are unlikely to have decreased with the rise in traffic at the port in recent years.”

“How often has the Fine Gael/Labour coalition government told us that exports will be intrinsically important to getting us out recession? Yet no attempt is made to maximise the potential of the state’s second busiest port. In fact the opposite has been the case. In recent years services in and around the harbour have been downgraded.”

“Rosslare is described as a gateway for British and Continental European tourists who wish to visit Ireland. Yet the harbour is missing vital services which these tourists require. The local tourist information office has been closed for the past three years, as has the harbours youth hostel. Two years ago the Rosslare to Waterford rail line was closed.”

“Minister Howlin’s stimulus plan was the perfect opportunity to invest in Rosslare Europort. The harbour could be extended and deepened. The Rosslare to Waterford rail line could be reopened and a new rail cargo depot built on site to increase the efficiency of logistics. Local services could be developed. All of these projects would create both short and long term employment; an investment not only in the port but in the people of Wexford.”

Upward only rent reviews are preventing recovery in County Wexford – Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin has claimed that upward only rent reviews are actively preventing economic recovery in County Wexford and are causing a continuing decline in retail sales. Chairperson of the local organisation, Oisin O’ Connell, has hit out at the Fine Gael/Labour coalition for backtracking on commitments made in the programme for government to legislate to end upward only rent reviews.

Mr O’ Connell said;

“One of the biggest threats facing many of County Wexford retailers is rent costs. Many retailers see their stores subject to rental reviews where the rent keeps going up. This clause is known as upwards-only rental reviews. This is the last thing you need as a retailer when your sales are going down.”

“More alarmingly, many of the rents for these properties were set during the boom and therefore are completely inflated. These excessive rents can only go up under the current system. Clearly the current commercial lease law is anti-competitive and anti-jobs. It is actively assisting in the continuing decline in retail sales and the closure of small retail industries across this county. It is also preventing many other small businesses from getting off the ground as they cannot afford to rent a property. This in turn is directly linked to rising unemployment and emigration figures in Wexford.”

“The Fine Gael and Labour coalition promised to legislate to end upward only rent reviews in the programme for government. Unfortunately last year they decided that this was constitutionally impossible. They never explained to struggling retailers and people who have lost their jobs in the sector what the actual problem was however.”

“Under Article 43.2.2 of the Constitution in the exigencies of the common good, the Government can interfere with these leases and allow commercial tenants market rents. It’s a pity that our government ignored this stipulation and instead appear more concerned with the needs of landlords and developers than with the many retailers and small businesses that are going to the wall because of excessive Celtic Tiger era rents.”

Hunger Strikers remembered in New Ross

A vigil to commemorate republican hunger strikers Kevin Lynch and Kieran Doherty was held on the quay in New Ross town this evening. Around fifty republicans took part in the event which was organised by the local H-Blocks Martyrs and Cullen/Hayden Sinn Féin cumainn.

Kevin Lynch was the eight republican to join the 1981 H-Block hunger strike for political status on the 23rd of May, following the death of Patsy O’ Hara. From Dungiven in County Derry, Kevin was just twenty five years old when he died on the first of August.

Kieran Doherty from Belfast had joined the hunger strike as a replacement for Raymond McCreesh. It was the second time he had been forced to go on hunger strike, being briefly part of the original 1980 strike. The twenty five year old was elected to Leinster House for the Cavan/Monaghan constituency with 9,121 first preference votes while on the protest in June. He finished only 303 votes behind the then-sitting Minister of Education. He died on the second of August.

Among those who gathered in New Ross for this evenings vigil were Wexford Councillor Anthony Kelly and the Chairperson of County Wexford Sinn Féin, Oisin O’ Connell. Further vigils are planned to mark the anniversaries of Thomas McElwee and Mickey Devine later this month.

Kelly calls for Wexford NAMA properties to be leased to local authorities

Wexford Borough Cllr Anthony Kelly has welcomed the news that NAMA plans to make 2500 properties which they currently hold available for rent to local authorities who in turn will be able to use these buildings for the purpose of social housing. The Sinn Féin rep also stated that while NAMA had been slow off the mark to facilitate the use of vacant properties to alleviate the social housing waiting list, part of the blame had to lie with national government policy.

“The announcement that NAMA is to make up to 2500 properties available to local authorities to rent for social housing through the creation of the NAMA Asset Residential Property Services Limited company is to be welcomed,” Cllr Kelly said. “98,000 families are currently on the social housing waiting list across the state. This is about 200,000 people waiting for a home while vacant, often boarded up buildings litter our nation.”

“The rent allowance crisis has shown the government’s split personality view on social housing. On one hand they are introducing a rent cap, endangering the homes of families reliant on rent supplement and telling them that rent allowance is a temporary measure for those waiting for social housing, while on the other hand they are doing nothing to make social housing available despite the huge availability of empty houses.”

“Recently it was brought to my attention that there may be up to seventy vacant houses in the greater Bridgetown area. Many of these are boarded up, an eyesore on a growing village and a danger to its young population. At least some are eligible to be seized by the NAMA Asset Residential Property Services Limited company.”

“While NAMA have done little up until now to aid the provision of social housing, they cannot be held solely responsible for what has been an obvious blunder. While thousands of families in this county have lingered on the housing list, what has our county council done to enquire into the utilisation of vacant properties for social housing? Have they entered any talks with NAMA now that it has been confirmed that housing will be made available?”

“We know that up to 200 properties in Dublin and Cork are already been tabled to be taken over by the end of the year. It takes two to tango, and if we want vacant Wexford properties to be utilised as homes for Wexford families then our local and national authorities must enter meaningful dialogue with NAMA now.”

New Ross farmers will need emergency aid – O’ Connell

Local Sinn Féin rep Oisin O’ Connell has called for emergency aid to be provided to farmers who have been ruinously affected by poor weather conditions this summer. “It would be no exaggeration to say that the recent run of poor weather has placed the South Wexford farming community in jeopardy.”

Mr O’ Connell said that the unprecedented rainfall this summer, combined with less hours of sunshine and cooler ground temperatures, had placed many farmers in dire straits. The Sinn Féin Chairman urged the Minister for Agriculture to bring forward the single farm payment to ensure the survival of critically hit family farms.

“The terrible summer we have had so far has impacted on dairy yields, forced farmers to rehouse stock where land had become waterlogged and impacted on mart prices as many farmers fearing a long winter attempt to offload stock. Many farmers were forced to rehouse their herds in July, leading to massive demand for feeding. The cost of feeding has increased fivefold. Valiant attempts to rescue the silage crop have resulted in some success but returns will be seriously down on last year.”

“In 2009, during another bad summer, a 70% advance of the single farm payment was agreed to ease cash-flow problems on farms. Such an advance should be given again this year. As the payment is not due to December, Minister Coveney needs to ensure farmers that early payments will be brought forward to mid October.”

“Farm inspections are currently being conducted around the county relating to REPS and the Single Farm Payment. Inspectors need to show leniency this year and understand that weather conditions that may have prevented a farmer from fulfilling all his obligations are outside that farmer’s control.”

North Wexford homes at risk from government rent allowance reviews

Homes across north Wexford will be affected by new, lower Rent Allowance Scheme rates introduced by the Government. That’s according to local Sinn Féin representative Fionntán O’ Súilleabháin who believes that lower income families living in the area will be hardest hit by the new ‘Maximum Rent Limits’ devised by the coalition government, which will force people to move out of their communities where they are established to areas where rents are cheaper.
Mr O’ Súilleabháin said;

“In recent weeks, tenants in receipt of Rent supplement in the Gorey area have been receiving letters from the Department advising them of the new rent Supplement limits, and informing them that they must seek to reduce their rent to those limits. The onus to renegotiate the rent has been left completely on the heads of the tenants, even if it leads to them being forced to break their contract which could result in the loss of their security deposits.”

“If tenants do not successfully renegotiate their rent to the new limits, they may be forced to find alternative accommodation. No family wants to be forced out of their homes, particularly when there may not be accommodation which falls within the new limits available nearby. Families may be forced out of the community that they call home, children will be rooted out of their schools and taken away from their friends.”

“The government is asking for alot from those tenants reliant on rent supplement in the Gorey area. Sinn Féin is calling on the government to meet the tenants half way on this at least. They need to provide tenants with support and information as to how to go about asking their landlords for a reduction in their rent.”

“Ideally they need to provide funding so that the Department of Social protection could have the resources to negotiate directly with landlords to secure reduced levels of rent for tenants. The Government should examine the possibility of using vacant NAMA properties for social housing purposes. We have boarded up houses and half empty estates across this county.”

“According to the government, Rent supplement is a temporary benefit provided to offer short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer.”

“Unfortunately adequate social housing does not exist to meet the needs of people in the Gorey area. Our Social Housing waiting list continues to grow and rent supplement has clearly been used by successive governments and our county council to avoid the startling truth that we have a very real housing crisis in North Wexford.”